Background
Persistent, multifaceted inequalities that cut across gender, income, education, health, and geography continue to be a defining issue in all regions. While poverty and restricted access to basic services are still pervasive in Africa, Latin America, and some parts of Asia, high youth unemployment is of concern in the Middle East and North Africa region, while in Asia and the Pacific, more than two-thirds of the employed population is in informal employment. In Europe, inequality manifests as growing social tensions, unequal opportunities, and regional economic disparities. Though the causes vary, from inadequate job creation and weak private-sector growth to skill mismatches, unemployment, whether structural or cyclical, remains a challenge across regions.
Against this backdrop, the Second World Summit for Social Development aims to generate new momentum into the SDG effort, placing social priorities at the heart of the global policy agenda. Building on the commitments of the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration, the Summit is expected to produce a renewed Declaration that not only articulates shared aspirations but also sets a clear path for implementation and follow-up and review.
The five Regional Commissions prepared a joint publication as a contribution to the preparation of the Summit, On the road to the Second World Summit for Social Development: contributions from the Regional Commissionswhich which outlines social development challenges and policy lessons across several action areas (see here a synthesis of key regional insights and policy recommendations).
The Draft Political Declaration calls upon the five Regional Commissions to play an active and significant role in the implementation of the Summit’s key commitments and recommendations. In particular, the Regional Commissions are expected to organize regional preparatory meetings in advance of the planned global follow-up review. These regional meetings will provide an opportunity to assess progress made in the implementation of WSSD2 commitments; identify remaining gaps and challenges; and explore opportunities for accelerated action at the regional level. The outcomes of these processes will serve as a vital input into the global review of WSS2 implementation.